Everton win Dominic Calvert-Lewin red card appeal in humbling climbdown for VAR

09 January 2024 , 16:22

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for this studs-up challenge (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Everton have won their appeal on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s red card against Crystal Palace.

Calvert-Lewin, 26, was sent off for the first time in his career in the goalless FA Cup third-round draw at Selhurst Park last week. The striker had his studs up in a challenge with Nathaniel Clyne but only clipped the Palace defender's shin with minimal contact and was in full control of his body as he claimed the ball.

Calvert-Lewin was facing a three-game ban if the appeal was unsuccessful. But the FA have heard the appeal and rescinded the red card. That means the 26-year-old will be available for the clash with Aston Villa this weekend, the cup replay against Palace and then either the Toffees' fourth-round tie at home to Luton or Bolton, or a Premier League clash with Fulham.

Calvert-Lewin was sent off after referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the screen to review the incident by the VAR, Craig Pawson. "The slow motion shows a different picture," Everton boss Sean Dyche said after the game.

"If you want to slow-mo everything, you have to slow-mo everything. There's minor contact and in live time he [Kavanagh] doesn't give anything, then they slow it down and everything looks worse.

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"Every fan out there must be going, 'What is the point?' We all know the outcome, which is that [the referees] are going to agree with what they are being told. I don't get all this delaying and looking at the screen for a minuscule chance they’ll turn it over. Why even bother?"

Everton captain Seamus Coleman added post-match: "When you slow it down, it's always going to look that bit worse. From where I was, it was a great tackle. I saw the replay after, and I don't know who the fingers need to be pointed at.

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Chris Kavanagh gave the red card (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

"When you see the referee goes over there, you know he's going to give a red card. It's been a big talking point, and for me, that's not a red card. It's another decision that goes against us that maybe won't get talked about as much."

Palace manager Roy Hodgson was sympathetic, saying. "I think it's unfortunate for Calvert-Lewin. It certainly wasn't a vicious foul by any stretch of the imagination but I thought the referee refereed the game quite well. If the decision was a red card, I'm not prepared to come out and say it definitely was or wasn't. It's a modern-day situation."

Chris McKenna